7 Secret Weapons AEW has in 2022

#1 Cody finally embraces his heel persona in AEW

It's no secret that Cody Rhodes has been getting more boos than cheers in AEW of late. Cody seems to have embraced the fact that some fans have grown to hate him. People have theorized that AEW has been setting the stage for a while for an ultimate Cody heel turn. YouTubers like Tranquilo Club have put together several ideations of an impeding heel turn that will be different in its execution.

Many are aware of VP status in AEW, though the final booking selection remains with Tony Khan. But the concept of him getting what he wants is akin to how fans saw Triple H in WWE as part of the McMahon family being booked as Champion over and over again. Moreover, Cody becoming a 3-time AEW TNT Champion beating fan favorite Sammy Guevera seems to indicate that Cody is setting things up for a heel turn.

When AEW first started, people, saw Cody Rhodes as their default hero. Perhaps, it was due that he decided to leave the only company he ever worked for and bet on himself. That certainly earned him the respect of some. But since he arrived in AEW, there has been this undercurrent that he's all about HIM.

Now, this is not a fact. There's more to do with how Cody Rhodes uses real-life events to create this illusion that he's pompous and overbearing. Cody has his reality show on TNT, he's a judge on a talent show for TBS, and he's now a 3-time AEW TNT Champion. Moreover, he's even taunting fans while pulling out a sledgehammer during his matches. Heck, for a minute, he looked like he was going to deliver a pedigree to Sammy but did a Tiger Driver 98 instead.

Another factor is that he's part of a wrestling legacy. To some AEW fans, that smells like 'privilege.' His wife Brandi also seems to elicit boos from the audience, akin to how Stephanie McMahon received jeers from fans. All of these subtle but calculated moves only spell one thing in 2022 and that the fans will finally get what they want --- a HEEL Cody Rhodes.